Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

At the request of Senator Polley and Senator O'Neill, I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

  (i) the Technical and Further Education (TAFE) system in Australia derives $92.5 billion per year in economic benefits associated with direct operation of TAFE establishments, higher incomes and productivity generated by the TAFE–qualified workforce and reduced social welfare costs,

  (ii) the costs of investment in TAFE are modest, at $5.7 billion per year, representing only 0.3% of GDP; despite this, the direct tax revenue which is generated as a result of an increase in productivity and incomes is worth $25 billion per year and represents 4.4 times the return on the investment in the TAFE system, and

  (iii) the Liberals have cut more than $3 billion from TAFE and training, 140,000 apprentices and trainees have been lost, and Australia has had widespread shortages of critical workers including plumbers, carpenters, metalworkers, hairdressers, and aged care staff; and

(b) calls on the Government to stop the cuts to the TAFE system and to support our apprentices and trainees – we need to boost our skills at this pivotal point, where we can rebuild our economy with an appropriately skilled work force.